Dannemann: Peter Leko catches up

10/2/2004 – After getting nothing in two 1.e4 games, challenger Peter Leko switched to 1.d4 and a quiet line of the Queen's Gambit, something that the title defender Vladimir Kramnik likes to play. Going into the ending a pawn up Leko showed fine form to win the game and equalize in this championship. Video report now up.

Leko switched to 1.d4 and surprised Kramnik with a quiet line of the Queen’s
Gambit, something that Kramnik likes to play himself. The world champion defended
well and reached an endgame a pawn down but with a draw looking very likely.

Vladimir Kramnik mulling over the new situation

However Peter Leko managed to keep the bishops and rooks on the board, and
started to push his pawns. He brought his bishop onto the long diagonal and
the position starts to look dangerous. Kramnik was forced to give up the exchange
and tried to construct a fortress with three pawns and bishop against Leko's
three pawns and rook. But it was futile and Peter Leko won the game in a fine
effort.

See also

9/26/2017 – The final classical game. The finals has been relatively sedate with three draws until now. But it could all end today with one decisive game. Ding Liren has the black pieces today. It's going to be an exciting game. Games kick off at 13:00 CEST (7:00 AM EST) with live commentary from Tbilisi by GMs Evgeny Miroshnichenko and WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili and live updates by our reporters Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal.

See also

7/5/2017 – This is neither prank nor clever wording: Garry Kasparov will be playing in the official St. Louis leg of the Grand Chess Tour from August 14-19, 2017. Please note that this is the Rapid and Blitz competition, just as the ones held in Paris and Levuen these last weeks, and not the classical events. However, this is not an exhibition event, and will determine the official Grand Chess Tour rankings as well as FIDE ratings of the players. Here is the press release.

Video

Tired of spending hours and hours on the boring theory of your favourite opening? Then here is your solution, play an Anti-Sicilian with 3.Bb5 against 2...d6 or 2...Nc6, and 3.d3 against 2...e6. In 60 minutes you will get a crash course in how to avoid mainstream theory and in understanding the ideas of this Anti-Sicilian setup. After these 60 minutes you should be able to survive the Sicilian for a long time, without being bothered by new developments found by engine x supported by an x-core machine. Now that it finally comes down to understanding, let's play chess!